the illinois policy institute

COMPASS
Leading the way for liberty in Illinois.

Flip this
state!
A Liberty Agenda for Illinois

ALSO INSIDE:
The Surprising Truth About
School Choice

Regulation Run Amok

Illinois Political Forecast

Liberty Leaders In Action

Fall 2008
From the CEO
table of
contents
3 Flip this State!
4 Let the Sunshine In
6 School Choice Luncheon
7 Policy Update
8 Illinois Perspective: Keeping Us Safe...
From Ugly Wallpaper
10 Liberty Leader Profile: Gus Makris
11 Political Radar: To Con-Con or Not
To Con-Con
12 Transparency Update & Institute in
the News
about us
The Illinois Policy Institute is a nonpartisan
research and education organization
dedicated to making our state a beacon
of liberty and prosperity for all citizens.
As a leading voice for economic liberty
and government accountability, we engage
policy makers, opinion leaders, and citizens
on the state and local level by promoting
free market principles and liberty-based
public policy initiatives for a better Illinois.
190 S. LaSalle St., Suite 2130, Chicago, IL 60603
718 S. Seventh St., Suite 102, Springfield, IL 62703
www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org
2 COMPASS
Welcome to the Compass, the
Illinois Policy Institute’s new
quarterly newsletter.
While much of the world is convinced that printed material is
passé, well…we’re not quite sold. In many ways, the printed
word is as important as ever, particularly when paired with the
multiple new communications tools we have at our fingertips.
Each medium, in its own way, adds up to a complete package that
can deliver an important message: the value and power of the
principles of liberty and how these principles can be put into law.
In a nutshell, that’s what we’re all about at the Illinois Policy
Institute. Yes, we are a “think tank.” But as you may have
gathered by now, we also focus on political results. That doesn’t
mean we “do politics”—gosh, that would be against the law and
IRS regulations. But nothing prevents us from providing a solid,
appropriate public policy direction to our friends active in politics.
Hence, our title: Compass. In all of our work, we hope to point
the way toward the principles of liberty for those who influence or
make political decisions here in Illinois.
Frankly, there is a vacuum in our state. Not enough people
and organizations point toward liberty in their public policy
discussions. Too many point toward more government and ever
expanding bureaucracies. This is ironic, given that most of our
current challenges stem from incorrect, ineffective or incompetent
government action.
We aim to provide a consistent, interesting, and persuasive road
map that leads toward liberty—and, ultimately, a better Illinois
for all citizens. At the Illinois Policy Institute, our focus is to
transform the principles of liberty into marketable public policies
that become law.
The Compass is one of many tools we are developing to advance
this goal. We will be working to improve it, issue by issue, to
make it a more effective tool for you and for those making
political decisions. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts
on this or any future issue. Your important feedback helps us
make sure we, too, are pointing in the right direction in serving
you and the liberty movement in Illinois.
Best wishes,
John Tillman
CEO
Illinois Policy Institute

ILLINOIS: FALLING BEHIND
Illinois may not be faring as well as you
think. When compared with the other
50 states, Illinois ranks:
48th in economic performance
42nd in economic outlook
47th in employment growth
3rd highest in outward migration
Highest in sales tax burden
4th highest in gas tax burden
7th highest in median property taxes
What does a LIBERTY AGENDA look like?
A few sample policies from our “Liberty Agenda for Illinois:”
• Eliminate the Illinois cap on charter schools;
• Expand the state’s educational tax credit;
• Open the Illinois insurance market to all fifty states;
• Increase government transparency...
...and more! See page 7 for more details, or visit our website to
download the full Liberty Agenda policy brief.
Want the inside
scoop? Sign up for
our e-letter today!
Log on to
www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org.
front of the book
Flip this State!
The Illinois Policy Institute presents an
agenda to make our state a better place
to live and work for all citizens.
Illinois is competing with 49 other states–as well as
with the rest of the world–for entrepreneurs, investors,
businesses and workers. It is losing this competition
badly, and the impact can be felt by all Illinois
residents.
Study after study, including the recent “Rich States,
Poor States” by the American Legislative Exchange
Council, documents that Illinois has quietly entered
the beginning stages of a downward economic spiral.
These serious economic warning signs echo the
early economic doldrums of our neighboring state,
Michigan, and are rooted in state policies that are all
too often geared against businesses
and families.
That’s the bad news. The good news
is that the Illinois Policy Institute,
together with our partners across
the state, is working for better public
policy for a better Illinois. And by
“working,” we don’t just mean thinking
and writing. Our goal is to promote
liberty-based public policy so that it
can become law in the state of Illinois.
This fall, we’ve unveiled our Liberty
Agenda for Illinois, a set of
innovative, non-partisan policies
that will kickstart the process of making Illinois a
better place for businesses, families, and citizens from
all walks of life. These are
practical, achievable strategies–
and we believe that they’re also
winning strategies. To check
out the full Liberty Agenda,
visit our website at
www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org.
Over the next year, we’ll be
developing and promoting
more of these policies. Stay tuned for more updates on
our emerging Liberty Agenda. Together, we can work
for a better, more prosperous Illinois.
COMPASS 3
policy in action
Let the sunshine in

Illinois Policy Institute Liberty Leaders

pave the way for transparency–and more!–
in Illinois.
Adam Andrzejewski, the Founder and Executive Director of
For The Good Of Illinois, has worked with the Illinois Policy
Institute as a Liberty Leader. Adam co-founded American
Marketing & Publishing with his brother and recently left the
company to focus on public policy.

Today, Adam promotes transparency throughout the state,

particularly in local school districts—and he also sponsors a
college scholarship in his hometown of Herscher, IL.  Together,
we’ve had great success and thank him for his stellar efforts
and dedication to serving Illinois. Adam sat down with
our Director of Transparency Policy, Kate Campaigne, for a
discussion about his work.

Campaigne: Could you tell us a little bit about growing

up in Herscher, Illinois?

Andrzejewski:  The welcome sign to Herscher reads

“The finest small town living in America.” People believe
it and they live it. Herscher is in Kankakee County,
surrounded by farm fields for 13 miles in every direction,
and, to this day, doesn’t have a stoplight. I was the oldest
of seven children, so it was a busy household.  I went to
work as soon as I could–mowing grass, detasseling corn,
and running a paper route. One of my earliest memories
is accompanying my mother on a visit to the local
banker.  She wanted to devise a plan to send her children
Continued on next page

6 COMPASS
to college. I remember sitting across from that banker
who told my mother, “Janet, your children will never
go to college because you will not have the money.”
Well, her seven children have eleven college degrees,
my brother graduated from Harvard Law School, and
eventually, my brother and I started a company–Amer-
ican Marketing & Publishing–which employs over 200
people.
Campaigne: What was one of your first experiences
promoting liberty and/or transparency? What drove
you to act?
Andrzejewski:  While I ran my company, I kept my
head down and wanted to be left alone.  After my
brother bought out my share, however, I started to
explore the function and results of our state.  What I
found was disheartening: Illinois is underperforming on
almost all of the challenges we face.
I felt I had an obligation to let Illinois citizens know
what I had  found. Last fall, I made a commercial of
the “Inconvenient Illinois Facts” and ran it on Fox,
CNN, MSNBC and the Discovery Channel.  That is
when I met John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy
Institute.  We are both committed to an exceptional
Illinois.
Campaigne: Why do you think citizen action at the
local level is important? If someone wants to get
involved, what do you suggest they do first?
Adam, who Andrzejewski: Throughout
American history, a few
is part of the
committed citizens have
Institute’s always been the catalysts for
Liberty Leaders change. I suggest adopting
program, has the philosophy of “Not
helped to make On My Watch!” and doing
something now, starting
$367 million of
where you are.  One way
taxpayer money
to get started is to join
transparent. our effort to make school
districts more transparent to
taxpayers. Ask your local school district to become open
and transparent by posting its check register online.
The proposal is costless, takes less than ten minutes to
do, and allows us to see how our tax dollars are being
spent.    Online transparency shows simple respect to
the taxpayer. ForTheGoodOfIllinois.org and the Illinois
Policy Institute provide a simple road map to do this.
Campaigne: What are your thoughts about
transparency in government?
Andrzejewski: Transparency returns the power of
government review back  to the people.   With greater
transparency, bad officials will start to self-censure,
knowing that all their activities go online. Meanwhile,
good people will not cave into temptations.
I titled my transparency effort the “Open Book
Revolution,” and it must be built person by person,
from community to community.  I have focused on
school districts as the government unit that will be most
responsive to transparency–and momentum to change
Illinois is building within our education establishment.
Campaigne: What successes have you had with the
“Open Book Revolution?”
Andrzejewski:  Our first set of transparency victories
occurred  in rapid succession. In a significant victory
for DuPage County taxpayers, the College of DuPage,
the Midwest’s largest single campus community college
with a budget of $238 million, passed the “Open
Book Test.” Working with Trustee David Carlin, the
college posted its
check registry within
12 hours of board
approval.  Over the
next 2 weeks, the
Elmhurst school
district posted, and
my home district of
Herscher voted for
transparency as well. We’ve had many other districts
commit, so watch for frequent announcements.
ForTheGoodOfIllinois.org, home of the Illinois School
District Honor Roll, showcases those transparent
districts.  Already, we have highlighted twelve school
districts representing more than $1 billion in education
spending on our Honor Roll.
Campaigne: What have you enjoyed about working
with the Illinois Policy Institute as a Liberty Leader?
Andrzejewski: The Illinois Policy Institute not only
possesses the raw brainpower, but also the will to
achieve tangible results. I have always believed actions
speak louder than words, so our relationship has been
very strong. From history, my favorite sculpture is The
Thinker by Rodin.  The man is deep in thought, but
certainly a muscled man of action.  In my opinion,
leadership is best executed by a well thought-through
strategy, followed by action, and henceforth results.  The
people at Illinois Policy Institute are not only very
smart, but also have that critical action orientation.
Since I have my own 501(c)4 organization,
ForTheGoodOfIllinois.org,  the relationship I enjoy
with Illinois Policy Institute has been one of maximized
Continued on back cover
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 movers and shakers
School choice luncheon
“It’s Not Just About Saving Money…It’s About Saving Lives.”
On June 11th, the Illinois Policy Institute held its first
luncheon dedicated to school choice, which gathered
a sell-out crowd of over 72 attendees to discuss better
educational options for the children of Illinois.

The discussion, cosponsored with the Cato Institute,

opened with Collin Hitt, the Illinois Policy Institute’s
education specialist, who put his point simply: “School
choice saves money.” His presentation demonstrated
why, showing how $4,000 education tax credits (which
would allow families to send their children to the
schools of their choice) could actually save the state of Michael Tams speaks with Institute CEO John Tillman
Illinois up to $3.48 billion over ten years.

Andrew Coulson, who heads Cato’s Center for Institute Events

Educational Freedom, provided similar findings, Illinois Liberty Forum
highlighting his On August 16th, the Institute hosted our inaugural
study of private Liberty Forum, a small, in-depth conference that
tax credits with gathered candidates, legislators and local leaders
a particular dedicated to pursuing free market policy solutions
emphasis on in Illinois. Attendees discussed how to better
international market liberty-based public policy in our state.
results—and with
a helpful closing Cooking Up Liberty With Charlie Trotter
statement. “This On July 31st, the Institute hosted star chef—and
is not just about great supporter of the cause of liberty—Charlie
saving money,” Coulson pointed out. “It’s about saving Trotter for a cocktail reception. Chef Trotter
lives.” For the thousands of Illinois children stuck in spoke about how his values have influenced his
sub-par schools, this couldn’t be stated enough. success, as well as how greater liberty results in
greater things for all people.
Institute CEO John Tillman moderated the discussion,
and a lively Q & A session followed the panel, with
great questions and insights from the audience,
which included legislators, academics, policy analysts,
educational specialists, and school choice supporters.

The event ended with a challenge: We have the

numbers…but how can we better tell the story of the
importance of school choice? Send your ideas to
info@illinoispolicyinstitute.org.

6 COMPASS
 policy update

INSTITUTE IN FOCUS:
SCHOOL CHOICE
. This
. year, the Institute has focused
extensively on school choice, covering a
variety of policies—including education
tax credits (raising the Illinois tax credit Announcing the Liberty Agenda
to $4000, our education specialist Collin
In August, the Illinois state GOP released an
Hitt argues, would actually save the state
“Agenda for Action,” prescribing policies
billions of dollars) and charter schools
including a government “jobs” program (via a
(including our efforts to lift Illinois’s
$25 billion construction bill), more education
arbitrary cap on the number of charters,
spending (above the current record levels),
which was endorsed and featured in the
mandatory Internet monitoring of social
August 22 Chicago Tribune).
networking sites, and more proposals that
can only be described as “Liberal Lite.” Our
Next up: the release of several educational
response? The Liberty Agenda for Illinois.
primers on the impact of privatization on
The Liberty Agenda offers context on our state’s
public schools, together with an emerging
economic decline, provides an overarching
media series on the impact of charter
theme of making Illinois a better place for
schools on Illinois families. Stay tuned!
business, families, and all citizens, and then lays
out proposals that, if put into law, would place
Illinois among the most economically competitive
states—instead of our current ranking, which is
Health Care: Mandate Mania in the bottom ten.

How to solve the problem of health

care “free riders,” who cost the system
millions? One popular solution involves
requiring businesses and individuals to offer
and have health insurance. Unfortunately,
as is usually the case with government
solutions, this could bring about several
unintended consequences. Rather than
aiming for universal health care coverage,
Institute president Greg Blankenship
argues, lawmakers should enact free market
reforms—including allowing Illinoisans
to purchase insurance from other states,
allowing no-frills catastrophic health
insurance, and treating employers and
employees equally within the federal tax
code—that will make health care better
and more affordable for all.
Why Cap and Trade Won’t Work
in Illinois
In light of the Governor’s Illinois Climate Change
Advisory Group, which has advocated a cap
and trade policy in Illinois, the Institute released
an updated study on the pros and cons of this
controversial policy. The bottom line: cap
and trade regimes are often case studies in
good intentions gone awry. In the attempt to
create incentives to reduce emissions efficiently,
problems occur with implementation costs,
regulatory capture, energy generation, price
fluctuations and a gap in technology.
COMPASS 7
 illinois perspective
Keeping Us Safe…
From Ugly Wallpaper
By Paul S. Detlefs
License to kill...businesses? Illinois’s
state regulations for professionals
like barbers and interior designers
squelch opportunities on many levels.
The last time you got a haircut or did some
redecorating, did you check to make sure your
barber or interior designer was properly licensed
by the State of Illinois?
No? If not, how do you know it was safe to see
them?
Never fear. Our state’s political class is dedicated
to keeping us safe from the dangers of rogue
barbers or interior designers—all to the tune
of around $112 million a year. The Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR), which is projected to
employ 800 staff members in 2009, exists “to
protect consumers of financial and professional
services by ensuring the integrity and standards
of regulated industries and professionals.” Today,
around 219 different professions are regulated
and nearly 1,000,000 individuals and firms are
licensed in Illinois.
Certainly, some professions need licensing—we
don’t want just anyone performing surgery or
designing bridges.
Less clear,
however, is the
need for licensing
of barbers,
manicurists,
cosmetologists,
Barbers must have certification...
interior designers,
landscape
architects, shorthand reporters, home inspectors,
geologists, and auctioneers.
State regulation laws nearly all begin with lofty
language regarding protecting the “public health,
8 COMPASS
safety, and welfare.” I don’t know about you,
but I’m not living in fear of a renegade interior
designer who recommends the wrong color
for my bathroom or a landscape architect who
selects the wrong plantings for my garden. In
prior times, barbers used to perform surgery,
bloodletting and extract teeth. They haven’t done
most of these things since the 18th century.
But they have been regulated by Illinois since
1917.
“Rent-Seeking” and Economic Theory
If not to protect the public, why do these
regulations exist? Over 35 years ago, George
Stigler, a Nobel-winning University of Chicago
economist, explained why. Interest groups often
band together, lobbying the government to
shape laws and
regulations that
benefit them—a
process also
known as “rent
seeking.” These
regulations
create barriers to ...and so must landscapers
entry, allowing these
groups to charge rates above those that would
come with free competition.
Consumers and potential competition, ultimately,
pay the price—but they also have little incentive
to fight these regulations, since the cost of
fighting them far exceeds the benefit for any
individual.
Stigler’s theory, also known as “regulatory
capture,” is easy to see in practice in Illinois.
Professions routinely lobby for practice legislation
(what one is allowed to do), titling legislation
(what one is allowed to call him/herself ), and
other barriers to entry. Legislators, meanwhile,
typically go along with the “status quo” for fear
of political reprisal. Illinois’s Regulatory Sunset
Act, which allows professional regulation only
Continued on next page
to protect the public from “significant and
discernable harm or damage,” sets dates for the
“sunset” of professional regulation, but these dates
are routinely extended. Regulation of a profession
like interior design—whose regulation was
recently extended to 2012—is rarely ended, given
that the “boards” which advise on regulation are
made up almost exclusively of licensed members
of the profession.
Many of these regulations fall especially hard
on the poor and disadvantaged, who often lack
the resources to meet the set standards. The
Institute for Justice (www.ij.org), a non-profit
public interest legal organization, has successfully
litigated cases to strike down regulation of
activities in other states including African hair
braiding (requiring a cosmetology license) and the
sale of caskets (could only be sold by a licensed
funeral home). Here in Illinois, however, many
restrictive regulations still stand.
Alternatives and Solutions
With budget deficits and enormous unfunded
liabilities, certainly Illinois has more important
issues to deal with. The private sector has solved
these problems before, and it is especially easy to
do so in the Internet Age. The Better Business
Bureau logs complaints and posts them to their
website, and other websites (www.angieslist.
com) share
customers’ personal
experiences.
In addition, all
states, including
Illinois, routinely
use industry
association
Interior designers must be licensed
to decorate private homes examinations as
part of the
certification process, rather than developing
their own exams. Why would Illinois’s “seal of
approval” for a landscape architect be any more
valuable than that of the American Society of
Landscape Architects, founded in 1899?
Continued in right column
Paul Detlefs, an IPI Liberty Leader, has lived in Glenview, Illinois for over 25 years, and has been
a consultant and advisor to small businesses in Illinois for over 30 years. He has an undergraduate
degree in economics from DePauw University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
An Action Plan
for Illinois
Illinois legislators and regulators need to take
real action to reduce unnecessary professional
regulation, which ends up hurting consumers,
potential business owners, and, most of all,
the poor and disadvantaged. Here are some
potential steps they could take:
• Use the Regulatory Sunset Act that is already
on the books
• Require hard, objective evidence of “significant
and discernable harm or damage” to the public
to justify regulation
• Eliminate the practice of routinely extending
sunset dates
• Perform a comprehensive review of existing
professional regulation, using a “base closure
commission” approach to shield legislators from
lobbying by individual professions
• Critically examine the need for any new titling,
practice or other licensure laws
• Eliminate all titling legislation and replace it
with industry association certification
• Transform the state website’s license and
disciplinary lookup features into links to the
same functions provided by industry associations
• Reform the state’s professional boards to
better balance the public interest with the
profession’s interests (more public involvement)
• Develop training, regulations or legislation
outlining inappropriate topics of discussion by
the professional boards (a “no lobbying” rule)
• Survey the public to understand where they
see the need for professional regulation.
COMPASS 9
 liberty leader profile

Gus Makris
By Richard Lorenc
Like the other forty-seven Liberty Leaders recruited
Liberty Leader Gus Makris of Chicago isn’t new to since May, Makris has varied political interests. Among
the ideas of liberty and limited government. In fact, as his top interests is school choice. “We would have never
a newly-minted lawyer specializing in tax law, Makris accepted the setup of the government school system for
is keenly aware of the issues that impact prosperity and anything else,” says Makris. “Imagine being told where
freedom. to shop for groceries, for instance. We like to have the
choice of where and what to buy.”
However, he only recently found a way to translate his
principles into action. “I was of the sort who was happy Makris believes that moving education reform forward
to sit at home and read a book,” says Makris. “But is simply a matter of good communication. “When
there’s no substitute to making something happen.” building a political movement, it’s easiest to convince
people that your position is one that they already agree
Searching for a way to get involved, with,” he says.
Makris e-mailed the author of an article “When building
on RealClearPolitics.com and asked for a political So, with Liberty Leaders popping up
some advice. The response pointed him in movement, statewide and citizens craving change
the direction of the Illinois Policy Institute it’s easiest to of politics as usual, where does Makris
and its CEO, John Tillman. “I shot John see Illinois in 20 years? “I can’t really
convince people
an e-mail and we met,” says Makris. “We say whether Illinois will be any better or
talked about how it would be helpful to
that your position worse than it is now,” he says. “But it’s the
know the margins of victory for legislative is one that they uncertainty that motivates me to try to
candidates, and I took it upon myself to already agree make it the freest, most prosperous place it
do the research and it get it back to the with.” can be.”
Institute.”
When asked what advice he would give to others who
Two weeks and twenty hours of work later, Makris seek to become Liberty Leaders in their areas, Makris
returned a series of data-filled spreadsheets to the says he has a new appreciation for the classic Nike
Institute, giving a boost to the pool of knowledge slogan: “Just do it.”
being used to plan a liberty-based public policy agenda
for Illinois. He also earned a spot in the Institute’s The Illinois Policy Institute is developing a team of
new Liberty Leaders program, a project designed to Liberty Leaders to work for accountable government
assemble a team of liberty-minded volunteers who are in Illinois. From issues ranging from budgeting to
committed to holding politicians accountable around transparency to education reform, Liberty Leaders
are organizing around the issues that are important to
the state. them…and they are making an impact! Help us make
Illinois a better place by becoming a Liberty
With no experience in politics or political research, Leader. To learn more, contact Richard Lorenc
Makris gave up a small amount of time to contribute a at richard@illinoispolicyinstitute.org.
great deal of value.

10 COMPASS
 be in a foul mood come this November–a foul mood
political that may make a con-con a pretty exciting event.
t he
Right-leaning proponents of the Illinois constitutional
convention are promoting the reforms that could come
with the convention, including recalling office holders,
term limits, more open elections, and binding referenda.
Meanwhile, those who might find themselves on the

RADAR
wrong side of these populist reforms–business groups,
party regulars, and many elected officials–are lining up
to oppose the convention.

GOP party regulars, meanwhile, feel that a con-con,

given the weak position of the GOP, would be a
To Con-Con…or Not to disaster for the party. With Democrats dominating the

Con-Con? state and enjoying both

perks of patronage and Illinoisans
By Greg Blankenship, President greater fundraising, they
could, in this view, literally neither like the
With apologies to the Bard of Avon, “To con-con…or rewrite the Constitution. governor nor the
not to con-con?” does seem to be the question this year. legislature. The
On the other hand, party governor himself
This fall, Illinois voters will be asked if they believe cleavages are not the may be a hair’s
that the state should convene a constitutional only division in the state.
Many Democrats from breath away from
convention–also known as a “con-con”–to revisit the
1970 Constitution, a document that ushered in the flat rural communities are impeachment
income tax, the notion of paying our pensions first, and much more culturally and following the
supermajorities for overtime legislative sessions. economically conservative conviction of
than their brethren in Tony Rezko.
The 1970 Constitution also requires that Illinois voters Cook County. One gun
go to the polls every 20 years and vote up or down on activist commented to
another constitutional convention. The last one, in me that because there are more districts in downstate
1988, was defeated by 1.8 million votes. than in Chicago, he walks into the convention with 60
votes on his side. The gun issue is far more likely to
At the time, the economy was humming along, the correlate with issues important to the center-right on
governor was both competent and popular, the Cold taxes, social issues and populist reforms such as binding
War had just been won, and the country as a whole referenda–and, in turn, these issues are less likely to
voted for a symbolic 3rd term for President Ronald correlate to issues important to the establishment of
Reagan by choosing his Vice President, George H.W. Chicago.
Bush.
That suggests the con-con won’t be political
Today is a much different matter. Armageddon for the center-right–and that the
divisions between Chicagoland and the rest of Illinois
Illinoisans neither like the governor nor the legislature. have the potential to be more salient than merely party
The governor himself may be a hair’s breadth away identification.
from impeachment following the conviction of chief
fundraiser and kitchen cabinet member Tony Rezko. Are anger and regional divisions enough to make
And the economy is struggling, facing the twin me confident that a constitutional convention won’t
headwinds of spiking energy costs and a housing/credit end with Illinois adopting a version of the Cuban
crunch. constitution? I don’t know. But remembering that
Illinois politics is more than just elephants versus
One indicator that voters are mad as heck and donkeys should be an important consideration in
aren’t going to take it anymore is that both major determining our vote. I, for one, have become less
party candidates are marketing themselves as agents of pessimistic after considering this particular variable.
change. McCain is the “outsider” in GOP circles, and
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama trumpets his “change we “To con-con or not to con-con?” We’ll find out soon
can believe in.” They both know that voters will likely enough.

COMPASS 11
Continued from page 5 Institute In The News
synergy. Many of our strengths are complimentary and The Institute has been making headlines across the state.
my efforts are stronger and sharper because of our affiliation. Here are some of our more recent highlights. For more, visit
our website at www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org.
Campaigne: You’re a proud father. What do you hope
to see change in Illinois so your children have a better
future?

Andrzejewski:  As I am being interviewed, my wife

and I are within a couple hours of delivering our third
girl.  These moments change your life forever, every
time.  I can tell you nothing rankles me more than
government waste, fraud, corruption, and abuse.  We
are in dire need of elected officials that serve in the true
spirit of public service–to serve the people.
Campaigne: What would you say to citizens who want
better government in Illinois?
On August 22nd, the Chicago Tribune featured the Institute’s
work on charter schools, and also endorsed our policy approach
in an editorial. Collin Hitt, the Institute’s education policy director,
pointed out the strengths of charters, explaining how these
innovative schools expand opportunities for all Chicago students.
To give Chicago kids the opportunities they deserve, Hitt argued,
the state should lift its current cap on charters.

Andrzejewski:  Let’s do something about it! Getting

involved now, we can do something truly significant and
John Tillman, the Institute’s CEO, made the rounds on Chicago’s
influence the course of our state.
top radio stations over the summer, appearing on WLS-AM’s top-
rated Don Wade & Roma and Jerry Agar shows. John was
Campaigne: Thanks, Adam, and thank you for your also featured in Crain’s Chicago Business regarding suggested
hard work promoting liberty in Illinois. I have very reforms to the flailing Chicago Transit Authority.
much enjoyed working with you, and  look forward
to continuing our efforts in bringing transparency to
Illinois!

Greg Blankenship, the Institute’s President, was featured in the

Wall Street Journal with a letter to the editor on energy policy.
Transparency Victories Across Illinois
Who’s posting financial information online for communities,
taxpayers, local businesses, and the general public?

School Districts Now Posting a Check Register

Bourbonnais Elementary School D53: $17 million
College of DuPage: $238 million Kate Campaigne, our director of transparency policy, contributed
Elmhurst School District 205: $109 million op-eds to the State Journal-Register, the Ottawa Times, and
CUSD 300, Carpentersville: $185 million the Champaign News-Gazette. Kate was also profiled for her
Harlem Unit District 122: $73 million efforts for greater transparency in the Ottawa Times.
Huntley Consolidated School District 158: $72 million
Oak Park and River Forest High School D200: $70 million
Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Budget: $63 million
and more!

Transparent Library District: Urbana Free Library

Transparent Park District: Wheaton Park District
Transparent Local Government: Village of Golf

Legislative Update 190 S. LaSalle St., Ste. 2130

Chicago, IL 60603
Along with Americans for Prosperity’s Illinois Chapter, the
Institute has been working with legislators on the Illinois
Accountability Portal (HB 4765). The bill would require the
state to post all expenditures online in an easily searchable
database. All expenditures would have a detailed account
of the payment’s purpose and who authorized the payment.
We’d like to thank our friends at AFP for their hard work and
leadership on this issue.

To make your government transparent, contact

Richard Lorenc: richard@illinoispolicyinstitute.org.